Apparatus for separating and unraveling yarns of knitted fabrics



April 14, 1925. 1,533,728

H.F.DRENK APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING AND UNRAVELING YARNS OF KNITTEDFABRICS Filed March '7 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l If 5 /o alto: u up /3ljlvwentoz rank.

April 14, 1925. 1,533,728

/ H. F. DRENK APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING AND UNRAVELING- YARNS OF KNITTEDFABRICS Filed March '7, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l; /fl

In I

J Ill I I/fi T I r 1 I I gnuen roz Henry F Drank- Patented Apr. 14,1925.

UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY F. DRENK, 0F RIVERSIDE, NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING AND UNRAVELING YARNS OF KNITTED FABRICS.

Application filed March '7, 1923. SerialNo. 623,419.

r T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY F. DRENK, a citizen ofthe United States,residing at Riverside, 1n the county of Burlington and State of NewJersey, have invented certain knitted fabrics.

The, primary object of this invention is the provision of means foreffectively separating and backwinding the different iii tel-knittedyarns of. fabric.

A very important object of this invention is the provision of a deviceembodying the above characteristics particularly well adapted .for useby hosiery manufacturers for the reclaiming of the yarn of defectivehosiery, the improved device including means to eliectively control thesplicing yarn thereof, so that the main yarn may be readily separatedand unravelled therefrom.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a. relativelysimple, practical and highly efficient apparatus, for quickly unravelingknitted fabrics and backwinding the same for reuse.

A furtherobject of this invention is the provision of a device of theabove mentioned character including means to quickly and effectivelyplace av splice yarn controlling member upon a fabric article, such ashosiery, from whichthe main yarn is to be separated.

Further objects of the invention are the provision of variouscooperating details which may be used in connection with the method andprinciple of this invention, so that practically any type of; defectivefabric or hosiery may have the expensive yarn reclaimed therefrom sothat the same may be used, again.

Other objectsand advantages of this invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andwherein similar reference characters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views,

Figure '1 is a side elevationof the improved apparatus, showing themanner in which the details of the same cooperate in separating thesplicing yarn from the main" yarn of a piece of hose, so that the mainyarn may be unravelled for reclamation purposes.

Figure 2 is, a fragmentary enlarged perspective view, showing the meansby which the splicing yarn or other yarn of a fabric article, such as apiece of hose, may be controlled and separated to facilitate the unraveling of the main or other type of yarn therefrom.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the main portion of this invention showingcooperating details thereof.

Figure 4 is aperspcctive view showing the manner in which an operatormay quickly and conveniently apply the splice yarn control member upon apiece of hosiery or other knitted fabric, so that the same will operateto maintain the splicing yarn free of the main yarn during unraveling ofthe latter.

Figure is a longitudinal cross sectional view, taken through theimproved device, showing the application of the parts thereof as usedwith a piece of defective hosiery.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of the manner in which this invention maybe used for unravelingyarn from defective fabrics,

even though the splicing yarn therein is mutilated, as is. sometimes thecase.

Figurev 7 is, a fragmentary perspective view of a modified detail ofthis invention.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown butthe preferred embodiment of this invention, the letter A generallydesignates the improved mechanism to separate and unravel knitted yarnsof fabrics for reclaiming purposes, which may include the mechanism Bfor receiving and acting upon the defective fabrics, and

the winding apparatus C, of any approved type; both of said mechanisms13 and C preferably being supported upon the ma chine base D.

In the manufacture of knitted articles, such as hosiery, underwear, andthe like, a

considerable portion of the articles, upon examination, are found to bedefective, incident to. ineffective working ofthe machine upon whichthey are knitted. Especially is this so in hosiery mills.'Ihis-defective hosiery or other fabric article, if .the same is knittedfrom single yarn thread without splicing, may be easily reclaimed bybackwinding the same in. the manner well known to those skilled in theart to which this invention pertains. However, in silk ho siery, as nowmanufactured, a splice runs from the heel to the top of the stocking.The yarn of which this splice is formed is knitted with the silk yarnforming the main portion of the stocking, and if the stocking provesdefective the reclaiming of the main yarn from the hosiery is extremelydifficult, incident to the knitting of the splicing yarn therein. It hasbeen the practice of manufacturers of hosiery to sell defective hosieryas waste, since the cost of reclaiming the silk yarn from this type ofhosiery was heretofore prohibitive.

Referring to the improved mechanism, and in detail to the apparatus B,the same includes the cylindrical shaped fabric holder 10, which in theillustration is cylindrical in formation, although the same may be ofany shape to conform to the article which the same is to receive. Thiscylindrical shaped holder 10 is preferably formed of sheet metal,although the same may be of wood or any analagous material, and isprovided with a slot or opening 11 extending longitudinally inward fromthe outer surface thereof. The cylinder 10 illustrated may be rolledfrom a single sheet of material until the beaded edges 12 and 13 thereofare in spaced relation to provide the slot or opening 11 of the properwidth, and connecting or reinforcing clips 15 may be soldered orotherwise attached within the holder 10, at the upper and lower endsthereof, so that the beaded edges 12 and 13 defining the slot or opening11 are held in proper spaced relation throughout the height of theholder 10.

The fabric article E, which in the present instance is a piece of silkhosiery, is slipped over the holder 10 from the top thereof, and thesame is drawn taut in engagement with the outer surface of the holder10, longitudinally thereof. The upper part or top of the hose E, whichis ordinarily of cotton and not worth reclaiming, is stuck upwardlywithin the compartment 15 of the holder 10, as at 16, in Figure 5 of thedrawings. The boot or silk part 17 of the hose to be reclaimed is drawntaut upon the holder 10, as is illustrated in Figures 1 and 4 of thedrawings. The splice 18 of the article E is arranged in confrontingrelation along the slot or opening 11, the same being of just suflicientwidth to lie inwardly of the beaded edges 12 and 13 of the holder 10,substantially as is illustrated in the drawings. The hosiery is placedupon the holder 10 wrong side out, and the float portions or loose crossstrands or threads 20 of the splice 18 are therefore outermost. Thesplice provided in silk hosiery is ordinarily cotton yarn, and isknitted in with the silk yarn, so that it can readily be understood thatit is at best diflicult to backwind the silk yarn for reclaimingpurposes, since the cotton splicing yarn becomes entangled therewithincident to the fact that there is no constant force acting upon thesame mary purpose of which is that of controlling the splicing yarnduring unraveling of the silk yarn from the boot portion 17. This novelmember 30 preferably includes a relatively long rod 31, having the upperend 33 a hook shaped head or offset portion 34 arranged in a plane at anacute angle with respect to the portion 33. The extreme lower end of thecylindrical shaped rod 31 T is rounded, as the rod 31 between the splicethreads or yarn, as will hereinafter be more fully set forth.

In operation, the knitted fabric article such as the hose E having beenplaced upon the holder 10, the holder 1.0 is disposed vertically uprightupon the machine base or bed D. The operator next grasps the novelsplice yarn controlling member 30,"

thereof flattened and provided with so at 35, to facilitate sliding ofas is illustrated in Figure 4, and after inserting the rounded end 35rearward of the topmost loose cross threads 20, and pushing inwardlytoward the opening 11 and rod 31 may be against the splice 18, the

readily slid downwardly intermediate the 10 splice and the loose splicethreads 20, substantially as is illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings.This operation is facilitated incident to the provision of the beadededges 12 and 13, and the opening 11, and

may be effected without any trouble whatsoever. An aperture 40 isprovided in the machine bed or base D through which the lower end of therod portion 31 extends, so that the member 30 by gravity as the silkyarn is unravelled or back wound fromthe holder 10. The hook portion 34of the member 30, of course, rests upon the loose strands of the spliceyarn, substantially as is illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 5 of thedrawings. The silk yarn from the boot portion 17 is loosened at the topby the operator, and athread 43 thereof extended toward and about theconis free to descend no ventional guide hook 44, and brought down- Cand unravelled from the hose IE, will free the yarnof the splice 18. Asvthis yarn of the splice 18 is all connected,rthe member 30 acting bygravity upon the. same. will draw or exert a pull downward upon thesame, so that as said splice'yarn is loosened, incident to unraveling ofthe silk yarn from the main portion of the hosiery or article E,

the. same will be effectively separated and segregated from theunravelled silk yarn and there will be no liability of twisting or theloosened splice yarn upon the head 34 may pass downwardly thereof andfall free from the apparatus B, or the operator may, by his or herfinger, remove the same from the upper end of the member 30. As isillustrated in Figure 6, a special type of splice yarn controllingmember is provided which is adapted for use when the outer loose crossthreads of the splice are mutilated or cut, as at 51. This member 50provides a rod portion 52 of very small diameter, which can bethreajdedbetween the main threadsand inside splice threads, where the threads ofthe splice are just, suflicient to permit the rod 52 to be inserted ashereinbefore described. Again, in the reclaiming of yarns from the footportion of the hosiery, a special type of member 55 will have to beprovided, whichincludes a rod portion 56 of ordinary diameter, and ahook'portion 57 providing a very broad inclined arm 58 corresponding tothe arm portion 34 of the first mentioned splice yarn controlling member30. It can readily be appreciated that the feet of'hosiery cannot beunravelled upon the'same type of holder as is provided for thebootportionof the hosiery, since in the former case the slot in theholder will, of necessity, have to be very wide, to accommodate'the'wide double sole provided in practically all types of silk hosiery. Inthis case, the special control member 55 is used as by the provision ofthe very broad head portion 57 thereon, the loosened cotton threadswhich it is desired to separate from the silk yarn will not be pulled toan undue extent, and cannot drop from the arm 58 or in any way get mixedwith the silk yarn being unravelled.

From the foregoing description of this invention, it is apparent that apractical apparatus has been provided, and an improved method has beendevised, whereby the silk yarn from defective hosiery and other knittedarticles may be reclaimed and separated from splice or other yarnsinterknitted therewith. When it is considered that at present largermanufacturers of silk hosiery and fabric are selling defective hosiery,such as the type E. in the illustration, at four cents a pound thesilkentering the same originally having cost the manufacturer approximatelyeight dollars and seventy'five-cents a. pound,the fact that the silkyarn may be :reclaimed by means of the improved apparatus B forapproximately twenty to thirty'cents a pound will very materially reducethe loss in production from defective articles and a considerableeconomy resulting thereby both to the -ma=nufacturer and the public.

The apparatus by means of which theinethod herein described and claimedis ef fected maybe altered considerably to conform to the requirementsof various articles 'to be reclaimed of valuable yarn therein.

Various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be madeto the form of invention herein shown and described, without departingf'rom the spirit of the invention or the scopeof'the claims.

I claims 7 1. An apparatus for separating and unraveling the main andsplice yarns of hosiery comprising a hosiery holder, backwind- 'i ngmeans for the main yarn of the hosiery,

and a weight supported by the spliceyarn to exert a constant pull on thesame during unraveling of the main yarn to separate it therefrom.

2. An apparatus for separating and unraveling the main and splice yarns10f hosiery comprising a hosiery holder,backwi=nding means for the mainyarn of the hosiery,

weight means for controlling thesplice yarn including a rod portionextending through thesplice intermediate the yarn thereof and the mainyarn, and ahead for engagin the splice yarn at the unraveling end thehosiery.

3. As an article of manufacture, a fabric holder for yarn unravelingapparatus formed of sheet metal having the longitudinal edgesthereofbeaded, said holder being rolled so that said edges are in spacedsubstantially parallel relation, and means connecting said edges inspaced relation to provide a longitudinal opening inwardly of the sideof the holder.

4. Apparatus for separating and unraveling main and splice yarns fromhosiery, comprising a hosiery supporting member having an openinginwardly of the outer surface thereof and extending longitudinal.- lythereof to receive the splice of the hosiery in confronting relationtherealong, a member adapted to be supported by hosiery in said openingfor engaging and pulling upon the splice yarn, and unraveling means forthe main yarn.

5. Apparatus for separating and unraveling main and splice yarns fromdefective hosiery, comprising a hosiery holder adapted to receive thehosiery thereon, and a gravity member threaded through the loose spliceyarn longitudinally of the hosiery to act upon said splice yarn whilethe main yarn is being unravelled from said hosiery whereby the lattermay be unravelled free of entangling with the splice yarn.

6. Apparatus for separating and unraveling main and splice yarns fromhosiery comprising a holder for tautly receiving the hosiery, saidholder having an opening inwardly of the side thereof extendinglongitudinally thereof along which the splice yarn is adapted to beplaced, and a rod member having a hooked end, said rod being adapted forthreading through the splice yarn with the head thereof resting upon theuppermost cross strands of the splice yarn, so that during unraveling ofthe main yarn from the hosiery said member will act by gravity to pullthe splice yarn free of the main yarn.

7 Apparatus for separating and unraveling main threads from splicethreads of fabricwhere the splice threads have float portions comprisingmeans to support the fabric, means for unraveling the main thread, andmeans acting on the float portions of the splice thread to exert a forcethereon tending to maintain the spllce thread free from the ravelingedge of the fabric as the splice thread is loosened incident tounraveling of the main thread.

8. Apparatus for separating and unraveling main and splice yarns offabric garments where the splice yarns have float portions looselyoutstanding from the main yarn comprising a holder for receiving thegarment tlhereon providing a way therealong which the splice faces, anda weight member adapted to extend along said way between the main yarnand the float portions of the splice and acting by gravity on the floatportions of the splice yarn at the raveling edge of the garment wherebyto draw the splice yarn free of the main yarn as the latter isunravelled.

9. Apparatus for unraveling and separating yarns comprising a holderadapted to receive the article to be unravelled, and an elongated memberadapted to be supported by the article in movable relation with respectto the holder to bearby gravity on a certain yarn in the article topermit unhampered unraveling of another yarn in the articlesubstantially as described.

10. In apparatus for separating and unraveling the splice threads fromthe main yarn of hosiery the combination of a substantiallycylindrically shaped support adapted to receive the hosiery in tautrelations, whereby incident to unraveling of the main yarn the splicethreads will be drawn by said member away from the raveling edge of thehosiery.

11. Apparatus for separating and unraveling the main and splice yarns ofa garment comprising means to receive the garment thereover including away along which the splice yarn is disposed, and means acting along saidway on said splice yarn to pull the said splice yarn away from. theraveling edge of the garment as the main yarn is unravelled from thegarment' 12. Apparatus for separating and unraveling main threads fromsplice threads of fabric where the splice threads have float portions,comprising means to support the fabric, means for unraveling the mainthread, and a splice thread controlling member including a rod portionadapted to extend between the float portions of the splice threads andthe adjacent portions of the fabric and including a substantiallyhookshaped head adapted to rest by gravity on the float portions of thesplice thread adjacent the raveling edge, said hook-shaped head beingbent to provide an inclined end portion arranged substantially at anacute angle with respect to the length of the rod portion whereby tocarry the splice thread portions which are loosened away from theraveling edge of the fabric.

HENRY F. DRENK.

